E M I SSA R Y

FRANCISCAN MISSION OUTREACH + ACTIVITY UPDATE + SEPTEMBER 2012

KENYA: April 16 - 30, 2012
I retuned to Kenya right after Easter to work again with the Missionaries of Charity Fathers and Sisters in Nairobi. We began with a Saturday youth encounter on the theme of vocation at the Sisters compound in the Huruma slums. During the week with the Fathers we did a three-day Eucharistic retreat at Kamiti prison that included a Eucharistic procession across the prison yard to the chanting of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy in Kiswahili each afternoon followed by all night adoration in one of the prison blocks. The men willingly gave up their sleeping space on the floor to welcome the Lord Jesus. The following Saturday, the Fathers hosted a day of prayer and recreation for the glue boys and girls who live on the streets of the Mathare slums. I was very blessed to have Br. John Baptist Jordan, CFR (lower right corner), joining me from St. Fidelis Friary in London.

SOUTH SUDAN: April 30 - May 16, 2012

In South Sudan we finalized the contract for the new roof on St. Peter Claver church in Lowoi (below left, completed in June) and spent some time with Nigerian St. Paul Missionary Fr. Chris Unachukwu - whom we are hoping to support in the future - at Mercy House in Torit. We also visited St. Theresa Catholic Hospital in Isohe, for whom Dr. Will Stallings and FMO are raising funds to purchase a blood analyzer machine (lower right corner).

UGANDA: May 16 - 29, 2012

Our busy schedule in Kamapala included evangelization sessions in six different sections of the Uganda prison system, outreach to Catholic prayer groups and business people, celebrating Mass and preaching part of the Pentecost novena in St. Francis Parish, Matugga (staffed by Polish Conventual Franciscans, who also hosted me) and helping direct the Pentecost weekend retreat at Emmaus Center, Katikamu. There I was also able to see Samuel and Elizabeth from South Sudan (upper left corner), whom we are sponsoring in a young adult spiritual formation program.

FRANCISCAN MISSION OUTREACH + PO BOX 1086 + SECAUCUS, NJ 07096-1086 + TEL: 718-618-4511 francsicanmissionoutreach@gmail.com + www.franciscanmissionoutreach.blogspot.com

ETHIOPIA: May 29 - June 7, 2012

In Addis Ababa we stayed and worked again with the Community of St. John (upper right). Jamie Murla (left) of Missioners of Christ, who had been travelling with me since early May, led music at the principal event of our visit: a Pentecost youth encounter. The Ethiopian Church calendar is one week behind ours, so we were able to celebrate Pentecost twice, both in Uganda and Ethiopia. We also gathered Eritrean refugee youth and showed them the Jesus film in their own language. Collaborating with Addis Ababa Auxiliary Bishop LesanuChristos Matheos (upper right, in black) we met with a number of lay leaders to plan for a future formation workshop. We were also able to catch up with Fr. Bernard and Br. Bonaventure, CFR (lower right) who were in Addis giving a retreat to the MC Sisters.

HONDURAS: August 2-20, 2012

My recent trip to Honduras began in the new missionary Diocese of La Ceiba on the north coast. I celebrated Mass in the cathedral and in several out stations, led Holy Hours, was a guest on three different Catholic radio programs and appeared once on local television. We are in close contact with Bishop Michael Lenihan, OFM (lower left) to see how we can best support this new local church that has only six priests of its own. I also had the opportunity to give retreats at sites on the north coast to two different groups of lay missionaries: the volunteers from the Finca del Nio (Farm of the Child, top) orphanage and school in Trujillo, and the Missioners of Christ (bottom center). I returned to Comayagua with Missioners to give additional formation to the newly formed Corazn Puro (Pure Heart) youth chastity ministry. I was also able to celebrate Mass at the Granja Jess Nazaret boys orphanage and accompany a group of the young men from there on a recreational outing. I plan to return to Honduras in November-December to follow up on and continue to develop our efforts in both locations.

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES:
September 5 - November 6, 2012
Africa Mission Trip: Liberia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia

Our missionary efforts depend on your spiritual and financial support. Please pray for us! Tax-deductible donations to support the life, ministries and missionary outreach of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal can be made out to Franciscan Mission Outreach and sent to Franciscan Mission Outreach PO Box 1086 Secaucus, NJ 07096-1086 Thank you! You are in our prayers!

November 15 - December 10, 2012

Honduras

January, 2013
Haiti